Cylinder-machine for printing on sheets.



No. 703,49I.

, Patented luly I,l |902.- Y lW. SPALCKHAVER. CYLINDER MACHINE FR PRINTING 0N SHEETS.-

' (Application mea Apt. 12, 1901.)

Z'S'heets-j-Sheet I.

(No `Modal.)

K 177@ WOT/ M44.

w. sPALcKHAvER. CYLINDER4 MACHINEFDR PRINTING ON SHEETS.

(Application Bled Apr. '12, 1901.)

2 Sheet-Shee 2.

* (No Model.)

nml 1r ill WJ@ mg? Tm: uonms PETER: co., Puma/urna. wAsHmamN. uA a UNITED dSTATES FLPATENQT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM SPALOKHAVER, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CYLINDER-MACHINE FOR'PRVINTING ON SHEETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent N o. I703,491, dated uly 1, 1902. Applicationneanpmiz,1901. seraiuotaasi. (Numan.)

T all whom ill/.may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Cylinder-Machines for Printing on Sheets, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention. relates to certain improvements in printing-machines.

In cylinder printing-machines for printing on sheets as ordinarily constructed-the sheet- .presenting means--such, for instance, as the feed-board--is ordinarily arranged to present the sheets to the sheet-taking devices of the cylinder at a point above the axial center of the cylinder. Machines have, however, been constructed in which the feed-board was arranged to present sheets to the cylinder at a point below the axialY center thereof. While machines arranged-in this way have certain advantages over machines in which the feedboard is arrangedabove the axial center, they are objectionable for the reason that the shadow cast on the feed-board'by the cylinder prevents the feeder from accurately positionin g the sheets. Furthermore, in the con-1 struction in which it has been iproposed to` use a feed-board which delivers the sheets below the axial center of the cylinder the devices for positioning the sheets-such, for instance,as a front-'stop .mechanism-have been crude and unsatisfactory.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce an improved cylinder sheet-printing machine of the type in which the sheets are presented to the cylinder below the axial center thereof, the construction of the machinebeing such that the-feeder can see to feed the sheets.

A further object of the invention is to improve the sheet-positioning devices of the class lof machines referred'to.

With these and otherobjects vin View the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully de- 5o scribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of so much of a printing-'machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention. Fig. 2 is a-plan ViewAv of the construction shown in Fig. 1.y

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, 1 indicates a frame, which may be of any usual form or construction. The sheet-carrying member of the printing-couple is mounted in'this frame vand-is indicatedatY-Z, said member being a -cylinder-whiclis mounted on a shaft 3, supported jin, suitable boxes in theframe.' In

vthe construction'illustrated the sheet-carrying member is an impression-cylinderr and is therefore provided with an impression-surface 4. Any suitable'form of printing member or members may be used in connection with the impression-cylinderfto produce a printing-couple.

The form of machine which hasbeen selected to illustrate the inventiony is a multicolor machine, and two cooperating formcarrying members are thereforeshown, said members consisting of form-cylinders 5' and 6, said-cylinders being mounted on shafts 7 2S. Thershafts' Tand-8 may be supportedfin thezframein any suitable manner." As shown, they are mounted in eccentric bearings 9 and 10, so that the form-carrying cylinders may be readily moved away/from the impressioncylinder for the purpose 'of inkingvup or for other reasons. In the construction shown the eccentric bearings are-,M connected by means of a rod 11, and thebearing 9 has secured. to' it an arm 12, which carries a segment 13.` This segment cooperates with another segment 14, which is pivoted at 15 to the frame'of the machine. This segment 14E is operated by means of 'a hand-lever 16 or in any other suitable manner.

The form-cylinders in thepresent machine are designed to carry aluminium plates, although any suitable printing-surfaces may be used therefor. A suitable inking apparatus 17 and damping apparatus 1S will be provided for each form-carryingcylinder.

While the construction so far described is a convenient one for illustrating the inven- IOO tion, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way dependent uponlthis construction and that any other form of printing couple or couples may be employed.

The means for presenting the sheet to be printed to the cylinder below its axial center may be varied within wide limits. In the present construction the presenting means comprise a feed-board 19. While this feedboard may be variously arranged and located, it will preferably be so located as to present the sheet to the cylinder beneath the cylinder, as shown. When, as is usual in this type of machines, the cylinder is constructed with a continuous surface, the feeder has diculty, because of the shadow thrown by the cylinder on the feed-board, in properly positioning lthe sheet on the board so that it can be taken by the sheet-taking devices of the cylinder, which in the present instance are shown as consisting of ordinary grippers 20. The cylinder is therefore cut away opposite the impressionsurface, so that after the impression-surface has passed the feedboard the light can have access to the end of the board, and the feeder can thus see to properly position his sheet. In order to run a cylinder at high rates of speed, however, it is desirable that the cylinderbe balanced-that is, that the weight of the cylinder be substantially equallydisposed around its center. In the present construction, therefore, the cylinder will be provided with a counterweightingsegment 2l, said segment being arranged nearer the axis of the cylinder than the sheetcarrying orimpression surface 4. By thusarranging the counterweighting-segment within the periphery of the cylinder or near its axis a cylinder is produced which will run evenly at high speed and which will not cast a shadow upon the feed-board so as to interfere with the proper placing of the sheet.

A suitable front stop will be provided, as is usual, to assist the feeder in properly positiouing his sheet. Front stops as ordinarily constructed are arranged above the feedboard and move upward away from the board. In a construction, however, where the board is arranged to present its sheet below the cylinder it will be seen that there is no room to arrange the front stop in the ordinary manner, so that it can move up above the board at the time when the sheet is to be taken. In the present construction, therefore, the front stop is arranged so as to move below thc board at the time when the sheet is taken. Any suitable form of front-stop mechanism may be employed. In the construction shown the front stop consists of the usual fingers 22, said fingers being mounted on a rock-shaft 23, which is located below the plane of the board.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for the purpose of rocking the shaft to move the front-stop fingers out of the Way when the sheet is to be taken. In the present construction the shaft 23 is provided with an arm 24, which is connected by means of a link 25 to one of the arms 2G of a bell-crank lever 26 27, which is pivoted at 28 to the frame of the machine. The cylinder is provided with a cam 29, which serves to operate the arm 27 of the bell-crank at suitable times, said arm being provided with a suitable bowl or roller.

The sheet-delivery means employed may be of any suitable description; but when the sheet is to be delivered with the last-printed side out such delivery means will preferably be arranged over the feed-board. In the present construction the delivery means consists of suitable tapes 30, which run over pulleys 3l 32, mounted on suitable shafts. A suitable switch or bridge, consisting of fingers 33, rests upon the periphery of the cylinder, as usual, in order to guide the sheets away from the cylinder, and a suitable nipping-roll 34 may be employed, if desired, to coperate with the tapes 30. The delivery mechanism described is of a usual form and any other form may be substituted for it, if desired.

The gearing by which the cylinder is driven may be of any usual or desired description. In the construction shown the power-shaft 35, which carries the driving-pulley 3b, is provided with a driving-pinion. 37, which meshes with a gear 38, mounted on the cylinder-shaft 3. The shafts of the form-cylinders are provided with gears 39 40, which mesh with the gear 38.

The operation of the construction will be clear from the description before given. It will be noted, however, that a machine constructed as described has certain marked advantages. The feed-board can be brought close to the fioor of the room in which the machine is located, so that sheets can be easily supplied to the feeder, and, furthermore, the sheets can be printed and delivered printed side up on a single revolution of the cylinder, so that the product of the machine can be largely increased.

While the construction shown for carrying the invention into effect is a preferred embodiment of the same, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific details of construction shown and described, but that many changes may be made therein without departing from the invention.

Vhat is claimed isl l. In a printing-machine, the combination with the rotating sheet-carrying cylinder of a printing-couple, said cylinder being cut away opposite the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to present a sheet beneath the cylinder, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-machine, the combination with the rotating sheet-carrying cylinder of a printing-couple, said cylinder being cut away opposite the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to present a sheet beneath the cylinder, and a delivery mechan- IOO IIO

y having a counterweighting-segnient which is nearer the center of the cylinder than the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to present a sheet beneath the cylinder, and a delivery mechanism arranged over the feed-board, substantially as described.

5.v In a printing-machine, the combination with thezrotating sheet-carrying cylinder of a printing-couple, said cylinder being cut away opposite the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board, a front stopl cooperating with the feed-board, means for movingthe front stop below the plane of the board, and a delivery mechanism arranged over the feed-board,

substantially as described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combinationv l with the rotating sheet-carrying cylinder of a printing-couple, said cylinder being out away Y opposite the sheet-supporting surface and having a counterweighting-segment arranged nearer the center of the cylinder than the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to present asheet beneath the cylinder, afront stop cooperating with the board, and means for moving the stop below the plane of the board, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-machine, the combination with the rotating sheet-carrying cylinder of a;

printing-couple, said cylinder being cut away opposite the sheet-supporting surface andv having a counterweighting-segment arranged t nearer the center of. thecylinder than the sheet-supporting surface, of afeed-board arrangedrtopresent a sheet beneath the cylinder, a front stop cooperating with the board, means for moving the stop Abelow the` plane of the board, anda delivery mechanism ar-.

ranged over the feed-board, substantially as described.

the feed-board, and means for rocking the I shaft tothrowthe stop below the feed-board,

substantially as described. y

9. In a printing-machine, the combination ywith the rotating sheet-carryin g cylinder of a printing-couple, said cylinder being cut away oppositel the sheet-supporting lsurface and having a counterweighting-segment arranged nearer the centerof the cylinder than the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to presenta sheet beneath they cylinder, a frontl stop, a rock-shaft on which `the stop is mounted located beneath the feedboard, and means forrocking theshaft to throw the stop below the feed-board, substantially as described.

10. In a printing-machine, the combination with the rotating sheet-carrying cylinderof a printing-couple, said cylinder being cutaway opposite" the sheet-supporting Asurface and .having a counterweighting-segment arranged nearer the center of the cylinder Vthan the sheet-supporting surface, of a feed-board arranged to present a sheet beneath the cylinder, a front'stop, arock-shaft on which the stopis mounted located beneath the feedboard, means for rocking the shaft to` throw the stop belowthe feed-board, and a delivery mechanism arranged over the feed-board,sub stantially as described.

1l. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating impression-cylinder, said cylinder. being cut away on the side opposite the impression-surface, a counterweighting-segder than the impression-surface, of a feedboard arranged to present a'sheet beneath the cylinder, a rock-shaft mounted belowV the board, a `front Vstop on the rock-shaft, a cam on the cylinder, andmeans whereby said cam rocks the shaftjto throw the front stop below the board, substantially as described. y 12. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating impression-cylinder, saidlcylinder kbeing cutaway on the side opposite the impression-surface, a counterweightivng-seg- ,ment arranged nearer the center of lthe cylinder than the impression-surface, of a feedboard arranged to present a sheet beneath the cylinder, a rock-shaft mounted b elow the board, a front stop onthe rock-shaft, avcam on the cylinder, means whereby said cam rocks the shaft to throw the front stop-belowthe board, anda deliverymechanism arranged over the feed-board,4 substantially -asv described.

In testimonyl whereof I have hereunto set my` hand in the-presenceof twosubscribing witnesses. ,c

WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER. Witnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. ROEHM.

ment arranged nearer the center of thecylin- IOO IIO 

